Providing health care for every American does sound like a panacea, doesn't it? Well, while it might seem like a noble thing to do, the truth is, the government is still trying to agree on how to come up with the $1 trillion to pay for the new plan.
Even with the latest round of meetings this week, no agreement could be made.
Let's review the three chief proposals that support this new plan-one from the White House, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House.
The House wants to slash Medicare reimbursements and limit deductions on charitable contributions.
The Senate Finance Committee wants to tax the health benefits by employers and cut Medicare payments to teaching hospitals.
The House wants to taxsugar-laden beverages, which contribute to national obesity.
Add VAT - value-added tax on consumer goods and remove tax deductions for prescription drug advertising.
Democrats still cannot agree on a financial plan with the House proposing tax increases on income of the wealthiest Americans.
The House Ways and Means Committee is looking to add an income tax surcharge of two percent or more on Americans earning greater than $25,000 annually and incrementally more for incomes of half a million and a million dollars.
Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker from California confirmed that health care benefits would not be taxed.
House aides stated that proposed sales tax on sodas would probably be rejected.
All the suggested plans reflect ways that Americans are "getting squeezed" while "supporting one's own country".
What many people want to know is why our country in asking us to cut back, doesn't cut back on spending for foreign aid.
Currently we spend $1.
7 billion in one year for aid to foreign students.
Reducing or eliminating this would be an easy way to raise funds.
Additionally, significant amounts of social security funds are sent to expatriates living abroad.
A new ruling could be made stating that in order to maintain receiving social security payments, one must reside within our country.
Finally, by decreasing foreign aid to nations, many of which do not spend the money on its target citizens, a significant amount of money could be obtained over time.
While all these suggestions would not total $1 trillion, it is still a start on how spending cuts that would not necessitate getting more money out of the tax payer, would significantly help close the financial gap to bring a universal health system to fruition.
Even with the latest round of meetings this week, no agreement could be made.
Let's review the three chief proposals that support this new plan-one from the White House, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House.
The House wants to slash Medicare reimbursements and limit deductions on charitable contributions.
The Senate Finance Committee wants to tax the health benefits by employers and cut Medicare payments to teaching hospitals.
The House wants to taxsugar-laden beverages, which contribute to national obesity.
Add VAT - value-added tax on consumer goods and remove tax deductions for prescription drug advertising.
Democrats still cannot agree on a financial plan with the House proposing tax increases on income of the wealthiest Americans.
The House Ways and Means Committee is looking to add an income tax surcharge of two percent or more on Americans earning greater than $25,000 annually and incrementally more for incomes of half a million and a million dollars.
Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker from California confirmed that health care benefits would not be taxed.
House aides stated that proposed sales tax on sodas would probably be rejected.
All the suggested plans reflect ways that Americans are "getting squeezed" while "supporting one's own country".
What many people want to know is why our country in asking us to cut back, doesn't cut back on spending for foreign aid.
Currently we spend $1.
7 billion in one year for aid to foreign students.
Reducing or eliminating this would be an easy way to raise funds.
Additionally, significant amounts of social security funds are sent to expatriates living abroad.
A new ruling could be made stating that in order to maintain receiving social security payments, one must reside within our country.
Finally, by decreasing foreign aid to nations, many of which do not spend the money on its target citizens, a significant amount of money could be obtained over time.
While all these suggestions would not total $1 trillion, it is still a start on how spending cuts that would not necessitate getting more money out of the tax payer, would significantly help close the financial gap to bring a universal health system to fruition.
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